… the mystery surrounding cult horror film director Stanislas Cordova? In Night Film by Marisha Pessl, the story itself is a hardboiled mystery novel with strong horror elements. Scott McGrath, a publicly ridiculed journalist, sets out to revive his reputation by investigating an enigmatic horror film director with a large cult following named Stanislas Cordova.

… the princess who rescued herself? The graphic novel Princeless brings us the story of Adrienne, second-youngest of the seven daughters of King and Queen Ash. Her father locked her in a tower with a mystical guardian, just like he did with her older sisters. However, Adrienne isn’t interested in waiting to be rescued by some man she will be forced to marry.

… the Dunelands and Alinean Islands in the Gray Sea? Neither has anyone else in Nolan’s world, but he can’t get away from them. Every time he closes his eyes — to sleep, to rest, even just to blink — he is transported from his own life in Arizona to that of Amara, a slave on another world. Nolan has no control over what Amara does or sees or thinks, but he shares her thoughts, sees through her eyes, and feels all of her pain and pleasure. He would do anything to be free of her, and she doesn’t even know that he exists.

… the haunted woods in the middle of Vermont? West Hall, Vermont, was the home of the mysterious Sara Harrison Shea, who was found dead just months after the tragic death of her beloved daughter, Gertie. Sara’s presence lives on as a local legend, but the legend suddenly becomes more real when nineteen-year-old Ruthie discovers Sara’s diary under the floorboards of her house.

… the Green Turtle, hero of Chinatown? His origin story is the focus of Gene Luen Yang and Sonny Liew’sThe Shadow Hero. As the son of Chinese immigrants in the early 20th century, Hank never really wanted to be a superhero.